Depression is known to affect multiple parts of the human body. Depression can even cause a person to have physical symptoms such as appetite change (increase/decrease), back pains (worsening in already existing back issues), fatigue, stomach/intestinal issues, headaches, muscle/joint pain, and sleeping issues (increase/decrease in sleeping patterns). Although depression can affect your body in many different ways, studies have proven that depression is caused by the brain.

The human brain is an interesting organ. Your brain has these neurotransmitters that create all the chemicals and hormones your brain needs to create your memories and emotions. It can creates a stress hormone, and that hormone is called Cortisol. Although Cortisol is mainly associated with depression, stress and anxiety, in large amounts it can cause brain cancer, (according to reports by the American Academy of Family Practice and the Russian Department of Family Care, http://www.lifeextension.com/ ,) and even sudden cardiac death. Cortisol can cause a person to become overweight/underweight or even sexual dysfunction. So, with Cortisol having those possible effects, what are some ways it will affect the brains function?

The hormone Cortisol has been researched and now is known that it can affect the Left Hippocampus in the brain. The Left Hippocampus deals with the functions bodies emotions and memory recall. Although this may not appear in every person, depressed people have been shown that their Left Hippocampus can shrink up to 19%. When the shrinkage occurs it may cause the person to either have memory loss or longer, worsening depression episodes. So, with depression causing your brain to shrink, is there any way for it to grow?
Actually, yes there is. Doctors typically would prescribe an antidepressant to the person who is depressed as long as they are not pregnant because it may affect the babies’ brain development. There are so many different types of antidepressant medications, but typically all antidepressants contain all four chemicals, Fluoxetine, Amitriptyline, Imipramine, or a Placebo. Although a Placebo is basically just sugar, it is used to help give the patient energy. What basically all antidepressants do is release a chemical into your brain the help keep your neurotransmitters in balance. Most antidepressants have been shown to help the Left Hippocampus regrow up to 15% for a person who may have a shrunken Left Hippocampus. An antidepressant cannot help resolve all the issues depression may cause, but it can help give a person the extra boost they may be searching for. But, an antidepressant is a drug so there has to be side effects. Plus, how long would it even take for it to actually do something to your brain and mood in order for you to notice it?

Personally what I have noticed with my medications, is it had a worsening effect on my mood and thoughts of suicide within the first two-three weeks, which typically is seen by most patients using an antidepressant for the first time. But, these are some other side-effects that may occur with a person trying a new antidepressant that aren’t so common. (Refer to side-effects chart for each chemical can be found on the last page. It ties with this paragraph) Anxiety, constipation, dizziness, drowsiness, and a dry mouth tend to be the more common side-effects. So, who exactly does depression effect?

Everyone gets into states of depression, its human nature. But really, who is depressed bad enough that they need medication? Typically a person is not diagnosed with depression until they have had about 2 consecutive weeks of being in a serious state of depression. Studies have shown that 1 out of 6 children are diagnosed with depression. And about bout 1 out of every 2 adults are diagnosed with depression. Unfortunately about 8% of the world goes without even being diagnosed, therefore they never get the help they need.

Depression is a very serious disease that cannot fully be treated, it can just be coped with. Thousands of people around the world deal with it every day, including me. With depression causing your brain to possibly shrink, make you feel extremely low about everything, and it effecting so many people, why not try to eliminate the disease all together? Before we know it the entire world is going to be depressed unless we actually find a way to get the human brain to not even create any Cortisol at all. Without the Cortisol we wouldn’t need coping mechanisms such as concealing/therapy and medications. So what, either we create a way to cancel out the Cortisol or we all become so depressed we kill out the human race by killing ourselves. Why let the human race die out that way?